Well pump



J. PENROD WELL PUMP May 15, 1934.

, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 28

7 rod,

, 1928 ZSheets-Sheet 2 J. PENROD WELL PUMP Filed Aug. 28

May 15, 1934.

li l 5 M i w Z Patented May 15, 1934 UNl'l'ED STATES OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to well pumps and the application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial Number 262,135, filed March 16, 1928.

Briefly stated, the invention has among its ac complishments the provision of a well pump in which particles of sand suspended in the fluid products of the well are prevented from coming into destructive contact with the cups or other sealing devices of the pump piston either during the movement of this fluid through the pump or by settlement from the tubing fluid above.

Another attribute of the invention will be found in the working barrel seating and anchoring arrangement by which the working barrel is held in a firmly seated position against the contrary influence present during the upstrokes of the pump, the arrangement of this part of the invention being such, however, that there will be no objectionable sticking of the working barrel when it is desired to elevate the same and flush a special sand receiving chamber embodied in the pump or when it is desired to remove the equipment to the surface.

The invention further contemplates a pump in which an increased capacity as compared with other pumps of the same size is obtained by limiting the several necessary restrictions in the fluid passage to the shortest possible lengths whereby an accelerated flow of fluid need be maintained for relatively short distances.

A further aim is to provide a well pump in which a plurality of cooperating protecting means are intercalated between the tubing fluid and the piston cups or other sealing devices to relieve these sealing devices of the increased pressure incident to the upstrokes of the piston; first, to avoid excessive wear on the working barrel and the cups or the like; second, to obviate slippage of the pump piston with respect to the fluid being elevated and third, to prevent the pump piston from exerting an excessive upward drag on the working barrel, which upward drag on the working barrel is known to be conducive to an undesired longitudinal contraction of the well tubing and stretching of the sucker rods.

The improved pump also embodies a piston in which the arrangement of the fluid passage and the valves therein is such that the resistance to the downstroke of the piston is minimized to re duce slack in the sucker rods and stretch in the tubing.

Also, the pro-vision of an elevator connection on the cage of the upper traveling valve will be found to permit the pump to be started into the well before being connected to the first joint of rods or to a valve stem whereby to relieve the cage of the strain incident to the unnecessary force so commonly employed in connecting the pump to the rods or a valve stem while these parts are lying on the derrick floor and at the same time to avoid bending or weakening the valve stem or the first joint of rods.

A further aim is to provide a valve cage in which the wings thereof are increased in crosssectional area toward the periphery of the cage to increase the strength of the cage and provide for the free flow of fluid.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the improved pump installed, parts being in section,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the improved pump partly withdrawn, parts being in section,

Figure 3 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view through the upper portion of the pump,

Figure 4 is a vertical'sectional view through the intermediate portion of the pump,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the lower portion of the pump, the view illustrating a dual seating arrangement for the working barrel,

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 6-8 of Figure 3.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 designates a tubing located within the usual casing 6 and provided at the lower portion thereof with a reduced or slightly restricted nipple '7.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate that a sand receiving housing 8 is suspended from the nipple 7 through the medium of a bushing 9 and is provided at 7 the lower terminal thereof with a bottom bushing 100 and foot valve shoe 1! A perforated inlet nipple 11 has connection with the member 10.

The working barrel is designated by the numeral 12 and as shown in Figure 5 has the lower portion thereof provided with a closed standing valve cage 14 within which a ball valve 15 operates.

A piston generally designated by the numeral 16 is mounted for reciprocation within the working barrel and is provided at the lower portion thereof with connected tubular packing bodies and 22.

Figure 4 illustrates that the body 22 carries a plurality of cups 24 having fluid tight contact with the working barrel while the body 20 carries a plurality of packing rings 25, urged into fluid tight contact with the wall of the working barrel by an expansion spring 26.

The spring 26 is shown to be confined between the packing thimble and a piston sleeve 28. The piston sleeve 28 is fixed on the body 20 while the thimble 30 is movable thereon under the influence of the spring.

In carrying out the invention a substantially fluid tight seal is provided between the piston sleeve 28 and the wall of the working barrel to act with the members 24 and 25 and to relieve these parts of the pressure of the fluid above.

The upper terminal of the packing body 20 is diametrically enlarged to form a head having a limited clearance from thewall of the working barrel and cooperating therewith in forming a choke by which the members 24 and 25 are further relieved of the pressure of the fluid above.

The major portion of the piston 16 is in the form of a tubular member or conduit spaced inwardly from the wall of the working barrel and cooperating therewith in the formation of an annular chamber 34 located immediately above and entirely separate from the pumping chamber.

As shown in Figure 3 an inner liner 35 is threaded into the upper portion of the working barrel and is received within an outer liner 36 carried by the head 37 of the piston. It will be seen that the liner 36 is movable with respect to the inner liner 35 and cooperates therewith in the formation of a second or superposed chamber 38 constantly communicating with the lower chamber 34 through the by-pass defined by the space between the inner liner and the tubular conduit of the piston 16.

The chambers 34-38 are adaptable for the reception of a sealing and protecting liquid which shuttles between these chambers during the reciprocation of the pump piston.

Otherwise expressed, a mutually compensating arrangement is provided between the chambers 34 and 38 so that as the liquid is discharged from one chamber it will be received in the other chamber. Since the combined lengths of the chambers 34-38 remain unchanged and since that portion of the liner 36 which is alternately covered and uncovered by the inner liner 35 is of the same inside diameter as the inside diameter of the working barrel the internal creation of a vacuum or pressure variation within the chambers 34 and 38 will be avoided.

Figure 3 illustrates that the upper portion of the inner liner is externally enlarged and is adapted to be temporarily positioned within the internally enlarged upper portion of the outer line 36 to cooperate therewith in the formation of an annular entrance opening to the liquid ceiving chambers 34-38.

Attention is invited to the fact that the major portions of the opposed surfaces of the liners 35 and 36 are spaced to define an annular supplemental sealing chamber 39 which not only functions as such, but also as a means by which liquid may enter the chambers 3438, preferably during the descent of the pump into the well. In explaining this feature it is pointed out that when the externally enlarged upper portion of the liner 35 is received within the internally enlarged portion of the outer liner 36 a fluid passage is defined between the supplemental chamber 39 and the chambers 3438 to the end that fluid may travel through the passage 39 and into the mutually compensating chambers 34-38.

Preparatory to the introduction of the pump into the well, the pump piston is lowered to the fullest extent in the working barrel and the frictional contact of the sealing devices 24-25 with the working barrel relied on to hold the parts in this position during the descent of the pump into the well. With the parts thus positioned, the chambers 38 and 39 will be in communication so that as the pumping unit is lowered into the well the high gravity fluid forming the upper portion of the column of tubing fluid will be received in the chambers 34, 38 and 39.

Since the liner 36 is extended downwardly about the major portion of the inner liner 35 the high gravity fluid will be trapped within the main and supplemental sealing chambers, so that the chambers will be protected from subsequent incursion of the low gravity sand laden fluid known to be located in the lower portion of the-tubing.

The supplemental chamber 39 will contain a stratum of high gravity fluid surrounded at all positions of the pump by the outer'liner 36 and remaining substantially motionless to act as a barrier by which sand is prevented from working its way into the main sealing chambers 34 and 38.

Figure 4 illustrates that the packing body 20 is provided with an aperture 43 by which the filling of the mutually compensating chambers 34 and 38 with relatively high gravity fluid during the descent of the pump into the well is assured. The port 43 establishes constant communication between the mutually compensating chambers and the main fluid passage through the pump so that during the descent of the pump into the well a portion of the fluid entering the piston will be received in the mutually compensating chambers to protect these chambers against the subsequent incursion of the low gravity sand laden tubing fluid at the lower levels of the well.

The port 43 is shown to discharge at a point between the upper and lower ends of a sand cavity or recess formed in the piston sleeve 28 so that if sand-is present in the fluid entering the mutually compensating chambers it may settle into the cavity in the cup and remain out of destructive contact with the working parts of the pump. The sand which settles below the level of the port 43 will be out of the zone of fluid agitation and in consequence will remain substantially separate from the sealing and protecting liquid in the mutually compensating chambers.

At all positions of the pump piston a generous overlap of the inner and outer liners is maintained. Thus, even after wear destroys the substantially fluid tight contact between the liners, the depending outer liner will confine the sealing liquid in the main and supplemental chambers and avoid a mixture of this liquid with the fluid surrounding the pump.

As illustrated in Figure 3 the internal diameter of the nipple 7 is less than the internal diameter of the tubing and is only slightly greater than the external diameter of the liner 36, 1eav ing a limited space between the pump and the nipple. Therefore, on tho upstroke of the piston the major weight of the column of tubing fluid will be borne by the ball valve 40 and the crown 42 thereof leaving an almost negligible portion of the cross-sectional area and pressure of the column of tubing fluid available for transmission through the limited clearance between the liner 36 and the nipple '7.

The area and consequently the pressure of the tubing fluid available for application against the sealing liquid is further reduced by the working fit between the enlarged upper portion of the liner 35 and the adjacent portion of the liner 36 so that the sealing liquid in the chambers 34-38 is relieved of the increased tubing pressure prevailing during the upstroke of the piston.

On the upstroke of the piston the limited clearance between the liner 36 and the nipple 7 will throttle or choke the liquid seeking to fill the space vacated by the ascending liner 36. This results in a reduction in pressure at the open lower end of the liner 36 so that the sealing devices 24 and 25 and the sealing liquid in the chambers 34, 38 and 39 are further relieved of the increased pressure on the upstroke. By thus relieving the liquid within the chambers 34-38 of the increased pressure present during the upstroke of the piston rapid wear of the sealing devices 24-25 and the inner wall of the working barrel is avoided.

Furthermore, by relieving the sealing devices 24-25 of the increased pressure present during the upstroke of the piston an excessive upward drag on the working barrel is avoided. As is known to those skilled in the art, an excessive upward drag on the working barrel is conducive to an undesired longitudinal contraction of the tubing from which the working barrel is suspended. Likewise, excessive dragging of the sealing devices 2425 against the wall of the working barrel results in increased stretching of the sucker rods and consequently a decrease in the effective stroke of the piston.

Also, by relieving the cups or the like of the increased pressure during the upstroke, slippage of the piston with respect to the fluid being elevated is obviated.

Figure 4 further illustrates that the piston carries a lower closed traveling valve cage receiving a spherical valve 52. The closed valve cage 50 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal guide ribs 54 terminating a substantial distance below the transverse stop 55 and which therefore allows of the passage of the maximum volume of fluid about the ball valve when elevated.

At the beginning of each upstroke, the ball valve 52 will be centered by the beveled upper ends of the guide ribs and moved axially into fluid tight engagement with the seat thereof. Thus, the shortened ribs 54 assure axial seating of the ball valve 52 and at the same time allow of the free movement of fluid about the ball valve when unseated.

By shortening the ribs 54 and beveling the upper ends thereof a close fit may be maintained between the ball and the ribs and at the same time the complete scavenging of the space between the ball and the ribs on each down stroke of the pump is assured so that sand is prevented from interfering with the operation of the valve.

The space between the ball valve 52 and the wall of the cage 50 is ordinarily the most restricted pont in the fluid passage through the piston and since this space is unobstructed in the herein disclosed pump the relatively free flow of fluid through the piston is allowed. There fore, the resistance to the downstroke of the pis ton is minimized, in consequence of which, slack in the sucker rods and undue stretching of the tubing is avoided.

The fluid passages through the bodies of the closed standing and traveling valves may be restricted toward the lower portions thereof to take the place of the guide ribs and at the same time to strengthen the bodies.

The construction and operation of the standing valve 14 may be like that of the lower traveling valve in all substantial respects.

Incidentally, Figure 4 further illustrates that the closed valve cage 50 is spaced inwardly from the wall of the working barrel and cooperates therewith in the formation of an annular gas receiving chamber by which liquid in the pumping chamber is prevented from depositing sand on the sealing devices 2425.

Also, the lower portion of the closed valve cage 50 is provided with a nut 58 which not only holds the valve seat in place, but acts as a striking element for engagement with the closed valve cage 14. Of course, the nut 58 may be bumped against the valve cage 14 by lowering the sucker rods to the proper extent.

Referring now to Figure 5, it will be seen that the lower portion of the working barrel is provided with a dual foot valve unit comprising in part, a tubular body 60 onto the lower portion of which a sleeve nut 62 is threaded. The sleeve nut 62 is externally threaded between the ends thereof for engagement by the attaching portion of the ring nut 64. The ring nut 64 is spaced from the inwardly stepped lower portion of the sleeve nut 62 to cooperate therewith in the formation of an annular groove for the reception of an annular valve element 66 of Babbit metal or the like.

Figure 5 further illustrates that a horizontal annular valve seat 68 is provided with a tubular attaching portion threaded into the member 1G and terminating below the same to provide for the convenient application of a wrench.

The upper portion of the valve seat 63 is sharpened to an edge from opposite sides thereof so that when the relatively soft valve element 66 is brought down into pressure engagement with the seat an interfltting fluid tight joint will be provided. When the valve element 66 is seated the ring nut 64 will overlap and more or less closely embrace the valve seat 68 to aid in relieving the joint 66-438 of the pressure above.

The shoe 10 is counterbored about the annular 2 valve seat 68 and for a substantial'distance above the same to provide for the thorough flushing and cleansing of the space about the valve seat when the working barrel is elevated.

The tubular body 60 is provided with an upper 1.,

valve in the nature of a plurality of cups 70 adapted for fluid tight contact with the vertical annular valve seat 71 formed in the upper portion of the shoe 10. The valve seat '71 is of the same diameter throughout to avoid sticking of the cups 5 therein and to permit of the easy elevation of the barrel when desired. It is believed to be clear that the cups '70 and the valve seat 71 con 'stitute an upper or primary seal by which the full pressure of the tubing fluid is prevented from acting against the lower horizontal closure 6668. In other words, the vertical and horizontal sealing arrangements cooperate to provide an absolutely fluid tight joint at the lower portion of the working barrel and sand chamber. The dual above the vertical valve seat '71 to form a guide for the dual foot valve and to avoid close parallel metallic surfaces between which sand could lodge and freeze the Working barrel in seated position. Also, the tubular body is externally grooved immediately above the upper cups '70 so that the movement of this part of the body will be away from the nearest surface of the foot valve shoe during the elevation of the foot valve.

Referring now to Figure 2, it will be seen that the cups '70 of the dual foot valve are less in diameter than the external diameter of the working barrel so that when the pump is raised through the body of tightly packed sand in the housing 8 the cups will be spaced inwardly from the wall of the sand. In other words, the cups '70 are moved upward through a previously formed opening of a greater diameter to avoid pressure contact of the cups with the sand.

It is believed to be clear that the elevation of the working barrel to the position shown in Figure 2 will permit the tubing fluid, or a portion of it, to wash through the housing 8 to cleanse the same of sand previously accumulated therein. The sand thus washed out of the housing 8 returned to the well along with the tubing fluid. Since pumping may be resumed immediately after the working barrel is reseated the sand dumped back into the well may be pumped out in suspension before it has time to settle. This aids in maintaining the well in good condition.

It is important to observe that the limited clearance between the pump and the tubing nipple 7 defines a lengthy choke or throttle by which the descending fluid is prevented fromengaging the cups '70 with force sufficient to distort or turn the same outward. In other words, the velocity and consequently the force of the fluid passing through the housing 8 is reduced to a point where destructive contact of the fluid with the cups is avoided.

The facility with which the working barrel may be returned to seated position makes it a simple matter to cut off the descent of tubing fluid when it is thought that the sand dumping operation has been completed. In this way unnecessary loss of partly recovered well fluid is avoided.

Referring now to the means by which the working barrel is guided into and is held in a firmly seated position, attention is invited to- Figures 1 and 2 which illustrate that a gripping and guiding sleeve is suspended from the bushing 9 and is provided with spaced longitudinal incisions or slots defining an annular series of leaf springs adaptable for random uniform pressure engagement with the working barrel to securely hold the same in the lowermost position to which it is driven by the bumping of the rod actuated nut 68 against the valve cage 14.

The longitudinal incisions in the sleeve 80 also constitute sand passages by which the sand settling from the tubing fluid may enter the housing 8.

It is clearly illustrated in Figure 6 that the wings of the upper traveling valve cage 42 are increased in cross-sectional area toward the periphery' of the cage so that the side walls of each opening in the cage occupy substantially parallel planes. By this arrangement the strength of the cage is tremendously increased without the slightest impairment to the fluid conducting capacity of the same.

The lower portions of the wings have the inner surfaces thereof ofiset inwardly to guide the ball valve axially to its seat. This assures prompt seating of the ball valve and at the same time greatly increases the period of usefulness of the ball and seat. When the ball valve is unseated the space between the same and thewings will be greatly increased and thoroughly scavenged of sand which might subsequently interfere with the seating of the ball. f

The cage 42 is formed with an elevator connection 104 by which the pump may be connected directly to an elevator and lifted from a horizontal position on the derrick floor to a vertical position and started into the well without the intervention of a valve stem. A pump constructed in accordance with the invention is of unusual length and weight and the provision of a direct elevator connection avoids bending or weakening the valve stem or sucker rods while lifting the pump from the floor of the derrick for introduction into the well.

Immediately above the elevator connection 104 there are flats or other means for engagement by the jaws of a wrench when the pump is being connected to or disconnected from the first joint of rods. In this manner straining or twisting of the cage is avoided.

Preparatory to the use of the improved pump,

the well is tubed with the housing 8 and associated parts such as the bushings 9 and 10 suspended from the tubing as suggested in Figures 1 and 2. Of course, any suitable inlet means such as the nipple 11 may be suspended from the bushing 10 or a gas anchor may be threaded into the lower portion of the valve seat member 68.

The pumping unit may now be lowered into the well and a portion of the tubing fluid, preferably high gravity oil, admitted to the sealing and protecting chambers 34, 38 and 39. When the work ing barrel enters the housing 8 the same is forced through the sleeve 80 so that the dual foot valve unit may be seated as shown in Figure 5. With the barrel thus seated, the lower portion of the piston is bumped against the valve cage 14 to drive the valve element 66 downward into fluid tight contact with the beveled sides of the valve seat 68. As described, the gripping member 80 may be relied on to maintain the parts in this position.

On the upstroke of the piston, the sealing devices 24-25 will act only against the sealing liquid confined within the chambers 34 and 38 so that these sealing devices are relieved of the increased tubing pressure on the upstroke and at the same time are protected from damage by sand present in the fluid. The sealing liquid inthe chambers 34 and 38 will move with the piston to at all times work with the other protecting means herein described in relieving the sealing devices 2425 of the pressure known to bring about such rapid wear on the working parts of pumps of conventional design.

It will be seen that the discharge of fluid from the pumping unit takes place in the diametrically restricted nipple 7 so that a relatively rapid ascent of the tubing nipple fluid will be produced. This maintains the sand, or a portion of it, in suspension during the operation of the pump whereby it is carried out of the well. The reciprocation of the liner 36 and the resulting agitation in the nipple will also aid in maintaining the sand in suspension. By holding the sand in suspension so far as is possible to do so and pumping it out of the well early filling of the sand housing 8 is avoided.

From time to time, depending of course, on the volume of sand which settles from the tubing fluid,

the housing may be flushed by simply raising the Working barrel together with the dual foo-t valve thereof as suggested in Figure 2. To elevate the working barrel and the foot valve it is simply necessary to exceed the normal upstroke of the piston to bring the head of the member into lifting engagement with the lower end of the liner 35.

When the flushing operation has taken place the barrel is lowered and a new fluid tight joint established between the dual foot valve and the seats thereof. The pressure engagement of the soft valve element 66 with the hardened steel seat 68 will produce a new fluid tight joint even though the hardened seat is worn.

It is important to observe that the cups 70 and the seat 71 thereof not only act as an upper seal, but also as guide by which the valve element 66 is presented axially to the seat 68.

The structure and arrangement of the dual foot valve unit is such that the barrel may be seated and unseated a number of times without damage or excessive wear. When renewal of the elements 66 and 70 or other parts of the barrel does become necessary the sucker rods may be pulled to withdraw the pumping unit without disturbing the tubing. When the necessary replacement has been made the pumping unit may be reinstalled and pumping promptly resumed.

The various parts of the pump are highly aocessible for repair or replacement and should it be desired to detach the liner 35 from the barrel 12 a wrench may be engaged with the externally shouldered lower portion of the liner 35 while a second wrench may be engaged with the barrel 12 at the knurled portion thereof. The lower terminal of the liner 35 is stepped inwardly a slight distance from the wall of the barrel 12 and forms a protecting means or backing by which crushing of the barrel by the jaws of a wrench is inhibited. The annular serration of the barrel indicates the location of the depending protective backing. To be sure, the barrel may be sprung inwardly by the jaws of the wrench, but the depending extension of the liner 35 will limit this so that when the wrench is removed the barrel will regain its concentric formation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a pump, a bushing having an opening, a seat member having an attaching portion threaded into said opening and formed at one end with a sharpened edge, a valve unit having a valve element for sealing engagement with said sharpened edge, and a second valve element above said first named valve element and adapted for freely releasable fluid tight contact with the wall of said opening.

2. In a pump, a bushing having a body provided with a longitudinal opening, an upstanding valve seat of annular formation in said opening, said opening being counterbored to cooperate with said seat in the formation of a chamber surrounding the seat and adapted for the reception of a flushing fluid.

3. In a well pump, a tubing, a member suspended from the tubing and having an upwardly presented seat provided with inner and outer side walls converging toward the upper edge thereof, a barrel having a foot member provided with a soft valve element to rest on said upwardly presented seat, a percussion member to drive said valve element down into fluid tight contact with said converging inner and outer side walls and the upper edge of the seat, and a centering and holding device frictionally engaging the barrel at random to center the same and to hold the valve element against turning and upward movement.

4. In a pump, a body having an upstanding valve seat provided with a horizontal contact portion, there being a chamber surrounding the valve seat and open at one end for the reception of a flushing fluid, and a valve unit having a valve element in sealing engagement with the contact portion of said seat, said valve unit being provided with a second valve element engaging a portion of said body above said seat.

5. In a pump, a body having an upstanding valve seat provided with a horizontal contact portion, there being a chamber surrounding the valve seat and extending above the same for the reception of a flushing fluid, and a valve unit having a valve element for sealing engagement with the contact portion of said seat, said valve unit being provided with means closely surroundi ing the valve element to hold the same against spreading and embracing a portion of said upstanding seat.

6. In a pump, a body having an upstanding valve seat provided with a contact portion at the upper terminal thereof, there being a charm ber surrounding the valve seat for the reception of a flushing fluid, and a valve unit having a valve element to engage the contact portion of said seat, said valve unit being provided with 1 means closely surrounding the valve element to hold the same against spreading and closely embracing the upper portion of the upstanding seat.

'7. In a pump, a body having an upstanding valve seat provided with a horizontal contact portion, there being a chamber surrounding the valve seat and extending to a point above the same for the reception of a flushing fluid, and a valve unit having a valve element to engage the contact portion of said seat, said valve unit being provided with a sleeve nut closely engaging and holding the Valve element in place and slidably overlapping said valve seat.

8. In a pump, a body having a longitudinal opening, a member secured in said opening and having anupstanding valve seat provided with a horizontal contact portion, there being a chamber surrounding said upstanding valve seat for the reception of a flushing fluid, and a valve unit having a valve element for sealing engagement with said contact portion, and a second valve element carried by said valve unit and engaging said body at a point spaced from said upstanding seat and forming a guide for said first named valve element.

JOHN PENROD. 

